Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

[rodbargee]

just got this this afternoon a very unmolested example of this rare rotary. not a million miles away in Hellifield its not been run or even attempted to run in ten years, the oil in it is brand new and a new element and it turns over on the kickstart (gently) HUGE BATTERY IS FUBARRED so thats next on the list and a looksee at the carb/ carbs,iis rather unfamiliar in there, here are some smaps









An aquired taste maybe but interesting lots of kettle cycle parts you'll note and some of the worst plastic metal indicators

[rodbargee]

[rodbargee]

non runner for years but why was it abandoned?...... front brakes still work but have not attempted to start it.

[Tricky]

You've acquired some very interesting and cool bikes recently old boy- will be watching this one with interest

[Dodgy69]

Not seen that colour. I knew a lad who had a couple of blue ones. Good investment I reckon.

[636mick]

Does the speedo binnacle still do it’s thing??
I had a couple of Kettles around the time these were out, like you said a lot of GT parts on them. A mate had one in, I think, red, looked lovely!
Watching this.
Ta
Mick

[rodbargee]

Engine out what ever as the frame will benefit from re-coating someone says the best way to take it out is to put the bike on its side!.. I guess we'll find out. one exhaust is really good the others possibly recoverable aalso the back mud guards bent at the fixing point so may straighten god knows what the engine holds we do wonder why it was abandoned... The binacle pops open when using the key so far. Haven't noticed anything else apart from New chain and sprockets !!

[KungFooBob]

Back in the 90's and early 00's Cusworths in Docaster had a blue one of these upstairs in the main showroom, it was there forever!

There was a one way system if you went upstairs so you had to pass it every time you went in.

I wonder what happened to it when they closed down?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Good luck, an interesting bike to restore, engine parts are going to be a challenge to find.

[rodbargee]

Good luck, an interesting bike to restore, engine parts are going to be a challenge to find.

I think most re5 bits will be a struggle. Stuff on US bay, but they want to have your eyes out for anything. Trying Crooks in cumbria who have s lot of vintage Suzuki stuff and a good rep.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Try Robinsons Suzuki, they've got a lot of old stock and are helpful, I know someone who has restored a few Suzuki GTs who might be able to help sourcing parts, VJMC may be able to help but the membership is a rip off.

[ogri]

Total loss oil system as used to lubricate the rotor tips if i remember correctly, rotors tips need changing, instead of pistion rings but more often.
Viable as a race bike for triumph, and they sounded lush when racing, but can be a money pit for private use.

[David]

Is that a supercharger under the carb?

[Hairybiker84]

Had one in the early 80's, loved it. Always created a scene wherever I went, possibly due to the clouds of smoke from the exhaust due to the over enthusiastic chain oiler! Double skinned exhausts with little intake grille at the front, allegedly due to the exhausts getting so hot.
Only recently got rid of an original compression tester c/w thermal paper print-out.
I'll try and find the details of the guy that had it off me as he had some assorted bits including a rotor unit.
Large taper-seat spark plugs originally but there was someone making adapters to take a standard plug.
Obviously the colour isn't original, they only came in red or blue for the mk1's (if I recall correctly) and the fuel filler cover would have been black.
Mine had to be completely rebuilt after a bit of a mishap!

DSC_0239.JPG (1.85 MiB) Viewed 655 times

Look what I found in the bookcase!

IMG_20210721_125647.jpg (657.99 KiB) Viewed 655 times

[Horse]

Viable as a race bike for triumph, and they sounded lush when racing, but can be a money pit for private use.

Norton The F1 road bike was loosely based on it, with the Commander (?) tourer (mainly sold to police and RAC.

And only viable for racing due to how the cc of a rotary is calculated.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've ridden a Norton F1 road bike, I think they cost £20K new, and this one was pretty new, it was in 1991, I was buying my first GSXR750 from a garage, he also had an F1 and asked if I wanted a go on it, so I did, my memory of it is that it was slower than the 1985 GSXR I bought off him.

[Hairybiker84]

Doesn't time fly? The bits were sold in 2015 through a contact in https://re5rotary.proboards.com/, user name 'raychappo'. He seemed to know a fair bit about them.

[Skub]

That's a rare old thing,even back in the day they were never plentiful. Good luck with the rebuild,I'll be watching this for sure.

[rodbargee]

Had one in the early 80's, loved it. Always created a scene wherever I went, possibly due to the clouds of smoke from the exhaust due to the over enthusiastic chain oiler! Double skinned exhausts with little intake grille at the front, allegedly due to the exhausts getting so hot.
Only recently got rid of an original compression tester c/w thermal paper print-out.
I'll try and find the details of the guy that had it off me as he had some assorted bits including a rotor unit.
Large taper-seat spark plugs originally but there was someone making adapters to take a standard plug.
Obviously the colour isn't original, they only came in red or blue for the mk1's (if I recall correctly) and the fuel filler cover would have been black.
Mine had to be completely rebuilt after a bit of a mishap!
DSC_0239.JPG
Look what I found in the bookcase!
IMG_20210721_125647.jpg

would Sir consider re-homing the manual for a suitable consideration.

[Horse]

That's a rare old thing,even back in the day they were never plentiful.

Don't think I've ever seen (or heard) one running. That said, the DKW was even rarer.